Curriculum Vitae: Karen Smith

Curriculum Vitae: Karen Smith Karen has experience in the fields of inclusive business, technical assistance facilities, and market systems programmes. She has guided, implemented and developed processes in monitoring and result measurement, sectoral analysis, knowledge dissemination and stakeholder engagement. She is a strategic thinker with track record of designing and leading large‐scale programmes. Her leadership of change programmes and subsequent MBA underpin her understanding of the private sector. She is an experienced programme manager and has held a long‐term overseas position in the management of a development programme. Personal Details Nationality: Qualifications: Language Skills: British MBA and CIPD, Cranfield University, 2001 BSc (Hons) Mathematics, Nottingham University, 1990 English (mother tongue), French (basic) Current Position Consultant, The Springfield Centre for Business in Development Ltd, UK. The Springfield Centre focuses on economic reform and private sector development. The Centre's main activities include: 
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Training: both in the UK and abroad; Development projects: mainly medium and long‐term partnerships with particular institutions; Research: that provides the basis for new programme development; Consultancy: specific studies (e.g. project evaluations) undertaken at the request of clients. Career History 2014 – Present Consultant, The Springfield Centre, Durham, UK 2011 – 2014 Country Manager, Business Innovation Facility project, Imani Consultants Ltd, Blantyre, Malawi 2010 – 2011 Independent consultant, Blantyre, Malawi 2008 – 2010 Head of Development, Salvation Army, Blantyre, Malawi 2004 – 2008 Self‐employed property developer, Darlington, UK 2001 – 2004 Senior Consultant, Consulting Unit, QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK 1995 – 2001 IT Manager / Change Programme Manager, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Farnborough, UK 1990 – 1992 Operational Research Analyst / Graduate Management Trainee, British Steel, Redcar, UK Relevant Experience MALAWI: Country Manager, DFID, Business Innovation Facility (Phase 2) Overseeing set‐up and delivery of the second phase of the facility, reorienting the programme to adopt a market systems approach. BIF is a five‐year £6m fund focused on the provision of technical assistance to businesses. Key functions in this role included:  Set‐up: Recruitment and training of a local team skilled in market systems development. The Springfield Centre for Business in Development Ltd, Suite One, 4 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP, UK Tel: +44 (0)191 383 1212, Fax: +44 (0)191 383 1616, [email protected] 
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Sector Analysis: Conducting and managing sector level analyses to determine the most appropriate points of engagement. Partnership Negotiation: Examining the incentives of partners to assess the correct level of support most likely to deliver sustainable impact. Refining Monitoring and Results Measurement: Establishment of an improved MRM system design to capture systemic change in line with the DCED standard. Strategic Review: Altering programme strategy towards an M4P approach. [2013‐2014] 
MALAWI: Senior Consultant, Imani Consultants Ltd Managing two projects advising on crop choices and market linkage mechanisms for smallholder farmers in Malawi districts supported by clients GOAL and Concern Universal. Oversaw the research process culminating in the recommendation of the most appropriate strategies. [2013‐2014] MALAWI: Country Manager, DFID, Business Innovation Facility (Phase 1) Leading the Malawi element of this DfID‐funded pilot inclusive business project. Phase 1 of BIF was focused on learning, testing and refinement of the approach to assess how best to deliver impact in the Malawian context. Key functions of this role included:  Scoping Market Opportunities: Identifying markets and key players with the greatest potential for engagement.  Pilot Partnerships: Operationalising technical assistance to businesses to achieve sustainable commercial and pro‐poor results.  Stakeholder Engagement: Liaising with a wider range of donor and government actors in order to secure buy in for the programme.  Monitoring and Results Measurement: Designing and implementing a robust and rigorous MRM system.  Knowledge Dissemination: Producing a range of outputs including blogs, case studies, and thematic good practice notes in order to encourage wider learning from BIF activities. [2011‐2013] MALAWI: Consultant ‐ International trade and tourism, Blantyre, Malawi Delivering short term consultancy work to inform a UN survey into non‐tariff barriers to trade and research and delivery of a strategic tourism plan for Mulanje District (USAID). [2010] MALAWI: Head of Development, Salvation Army Initially contracted to improve project management and subsequently appointed Head of Development. Designing and overseeing development projects including work in livelihoods, SMEs, micro‐credit and solar products, managing £1.5M annual budget with various funding partners, including CIDA, DFID and USAID. [2008‐2010] Previous Work History UK: Senior Consultant, Consulting Unit, QinetiQ QinetiQ is the one of the world’s leading innovator and developers of technology solutions. As part of the business unit leadership team, co‐ordinated the transition of staff from DERA into QinetiQ and facilitated the strategic planning process to commercialise offerings. Appointed as staff officer to director of new consulting business unit, managing sensitive internal communications, building the management team and contributing to the development of marketing plans and new organisational structure. [September 2001 ‐ August 2004] The Springfield Centre for Business in Development Ltd, Suite One, 4 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP, UK Tel: +44 (0)191 383 1212, Fax: +44 (0)191 383 1616, [email protected] UK: Change Programme Manager, Centre for Defence Analysis, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Selected to manage the first phase of a new change programme, designing and leading the employee involvement campaign, coaching junior team members and contracting external support as required. Designed and implemented projects including HR Strategy, Balanced Scorecard, leadership programme and technical competency framework. Promoted to lead the whole programme (£3M), reporting to the senior management team and delivering 25 projects staffed by over 100 employees and contractors on 6 sites. [September 1997 ‐ August 2001] UK: IT Manager / Operations Research Analyst, Centre for Defence Analysis, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Joined the Centre for Defence Analysis as an analyst, building linear programmes and simulations to inform long term defence procurement decisions for the High Level Studies Department. Appointed as departmental IT Manager, managing team to support 150 users in a classified, hi‐tech, multi‐
platform environment. [September 1995 ‐ August 1997] Operational Research Analyst, British Steel, Redcar Improved business efficiencies through modelling and software development projects and gained business skills and knowledge on two year graduate management programme. [September 1990 ‐ August 1992] Conferences and Training 
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The Springfield Centre, Making Markets Work, Bangkok, Thailand, November 2014 IAP Conference, Lusaka, Zambia, November 2013 The Springfield Centre for Business in Development Ltd, Suite One, 4 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NP, UK Tel: +44 (0)191 383 1212, Fax: +44 (0)191 383 1616, [email protected]

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